Typewriter



Aug. 12, 1941.

JQL. SWEENEY ETAL TYPEWRITER Filed May 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Shae}. 2

-Aug. 12, 1941.

J. L. SWEENEY ETAL I TYPEWRITER Filed May 15, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 A g- 12, 1941- J. L. SWEENEY ETAL TYPEWRITER Filed lay 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 mawnrrna Joseph Lee Sweeney and Harry Bates, New York, N. Y., assignors to Bates Laboratories, Inc., New

York, N. Y.

Application May 1:, 1938, Serial No. 267,819

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriters and more particularly to a typewriter of such character that speed and volume of work are of secondary importance, but with which cost and educational value are of prime importance.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a typewriter which may be manufactured at relatively small cost due to the fact that many moving parts of conventional typewriters are eliminated.

In accordance with theinvention all the functions of the usual key levers of conventional typewriters are reduced in number, as the entire keyboard is on a single plate or dummy keyboard on drums are operatively connected to a manually not only causes rotation of the cylinders but results in turning of a type wheel bearing characters corresponding to the. type bars of conventional typewriters. l

Instead of employing a plurality of character or indicating cylinders, we may use a single cylinder, but this will necessitate crowding of the characters on the cylinder. We therefore prefer actuated rotatable shaft, the turning of which to use two cylinders instead of one, but appreciate that the same generalresult can be accomplished by employing a single cylinder.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings,

in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away,

of a preferred form of our typewriter.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical'sectional view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the type wheel,

the view being taken on the line 4-4 oi' Flg. 5.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a detail taken diametrically through the type wheel and partly in elevation. l

Fig. 6 is an. exploded perspective view of the pawl mechanism employed to temporarily lock the type wheel in position during printing.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the type wheel rotating member. a

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view partly in elevation taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 and showing the escapement mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the main bearing for the rotating tube of the-type wheel, shown detached from the machine.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view or a modification oi! the machine.

Fig. 13 isa longitudinal sectional view oi th last-mentioned machine taken on the line l3-l3 oi Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a similar view of a'detail taken on the line |4--Il of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a top'plan view, partly broken away, of a still further modification.

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional viewtaken onv the line 16-46 of Fig. 15.

Fig.1! is a sectional view of a detail taken on the line I'|-l| of Fig. 15.

Referring first to theembodiment of the in-' vention illustratedin Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, 20

(Fig. 2) designates an internal frame having a. j

front-wall ll, rear wall 22, side walls 23 and a top 24, the latter being stamped out at 25 to form a pair of spaced depending tongues 28, which (Figs. 3 and 4) form supports for a' horizontal shaft or bearing. Pin 21 i'orminga rocking support for the levers 2|. These levers diverge forwardly from the shaft 21 as indicated at I! 1 corresponding with the characters of the row or key buttons 32 with which the group is aligned.

For example, the first row of key buttons, bears the characters "1, q, a" and z, andthese will be the same characters as in the group 3i 0! the index which is aligned with the row.

This arrangement will aid in instructing a student as to the arrangement of the characters in each row as a student will associate a particular group of characters with a particular row. Obviously such arrangement will facilitate tend upwardly and rearwardly from the shaft 21 so as to engage the platen carriage 31 as indicated at 18. 1

The levers extend through slots 36 in the top of the frame of the machine.

The platen carriage-is supported by a substantially' inverted U-shaped member consisting of a substantially horizontal track or platform 46, from which legs 4| depend. These legs extend through slots 42 in the top of the frame and their lower ends are rockably supported byjany suitable means such as horizontal bolts 43 that are secured to the sidewalls of the frame. Coil springs 44 surround the bolts, and each spring has one of its ends hooked underthe lower edge of the rear wall of the frame, as indicated at 45, and its other end hooked through an apertured ear 46 formed 'on the corresponding leg 4|. Such springs act to urge the platen rearwardlyso'as to cause the platen carriage to impinge against the rear ends of the levers 28 and yieldingly holdj the dummy keyboard 3| in normal or elevated position (Fig. 3).

The platen carriage comprises a guide plate 41 having its side edges bent downwardly so as to slidably engage the side edges of the track or platform 46; One of the edges of the carriage plate (the front one) forms a toothed rack, the teethof which are shown at 46 in Fig, 9. Such teeth form part ofthe escapement mechanism-which includes a rocking lever 48 that is moved forwardly by the depression of a spacing bar 60. The latter ismounted on the forward ends of levers 6| which have their rear ends pivotally mounted on the shaft 21. Each of these levers is provided with a lug 62 (Fig. 3) which fits into a notch 63 in the complementary lever 28 of the keyboard. Consequently, each time the shift bar is depressed, the levers 6| will swing about the axis of the shaft 21, and the lugs 62 will bear downwardly against the forward end portions of the levers 28 to cause the rear end portions of the latter levers to act against the platen carriage and move the platen forward. Obviously, when the operator releases either the keyboard or the space bar 60, the springs 44 will function to return the parts to normal position.

Of course, when the spacing bar is depressed, the platen should not be moved into contact'with the type wheel (hereinafter described), and

' therefore each lever 6| works in a vertical slot Na in the front wall 2| of the machine frame, and the lower end of the slot forms an abutment edge 61b to limit the downward movement of pivotally' connected at 56 by a vertical pin to the top-24 of the frame of the machine. The

lever 'may be made of a piece of sheet metal, opposite side edges of which are turned upwardly to form an advancing pawl 50' and a locking pawl, 5i, each of whichcooperates with the teeth of the rack. A downwardly extending lug 52 at the rear end of the lever, cooperates with the ends of a slot 53 in the top of the machine frame to limit the turning movement of the pawl.

' Theplatform 46 of the rockable member is provided with a depending lug or finger n, which projects forwardly and is adapted to engage the pawl 50' for moving the lever 49 in a counter-clockwise direction when the platen is thelever. Due to this construction, the platen canstrike the type wheel when the keyboard is depressed, but cannot strike the type wheel when the sp cing bar is depressed.

The platen cooperates with a type wheel 64 having upper and lower type character at the periphery thereof. I

Such wheel is rigidly fixed to the upper end of a shaft 65. Pins 66 (Fig. 5) depend from the type wheel and loosely engage notches 61 (Fig. 7) in the ends of a bar 68. A tube 69 has its upper end fixed to the medial portion of the bar, and as best shown in Fig. 8, the tube is provided with a worm gear 16. The tube forms a bearing for the shaft which'extends through the tube so that the type wheel can be raised or lowered without disturbing the position of. the tube.

through the .top of the frame at the point where moved forwardly. When such movement occurs,

it is obvious that the teeth 46 are moved out of engagement with the pawls, and the lever 4615 moved into such position that when the rack on its return movement travels rearwardly, the pawl 50' will be in a position to engage a succeeding tooth of the rack, so as to advance the carriage one step for each cycle of the platen.

When the parts move to the rearward position,

'the pawl 5| comes into a position between two of the teeth 46 and functions to lock the platen carriage againstmovernent axially of the platen.

The platen is indicated at 55 and it is mounted on" a hand-operated shaft 56 journalled in the end walls 51' of the carriage. paper guide and 59 the guide. rollers of the platen carriage.

- The platen is not only moved forward by the 56 designates the the tongues are located, and the sections of the bearing are held in assembled relation by the front edge of a hinge plate 11 which in turn is held in place by a Washer 18 securedto the'top of the frame by a bolt I9.

The worm 16 of the tube which acts to turn the type wheel meshes with a worm or helical gear 50 fixed to a horizontal shaft 8| that is journalled in the side walls of the machine and provided at its ends with hand-operated knobs 82. Obviously'when either one or both of the knobs are turned, the gearing 80, 10, will cause rotation ofthe bar 66 and the latter, through the instrumentality of the pins 66, 11 cause corresponding turning of the type wheel 64.

A--pair of indicating cylinders 83 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 8|, each cylinder being,

preferably arranged near one of the side walls of 'the' machine. The. cylinders between them bear characters corresponding with the type characters on the wheel 64 and the characters on thekey buttons 32 of the keyboard. In other words, ,ach. cylinder 83 will bear half of the characters. Consequently, the characters on I n each ,cylinder are arranged in staggered relation depression of the keyboard but isadapted to be '75 relatively to thecharacters on the other cylinder,

99 of the machine.

and these characters cooperate with stationary pointers 95 arranged at windows 99 in the case The characters on the type wheel may beinked by any suitable means. For example, an inking ribbon 99 which passes about the periphery of the type wheel, may be guided by spools 9| which rotate on vertical shafts 92 extending upwardly from the top of the frame of th machine. As the ribbon is taut, turning of the type wheel will cause corresponding movement of the ribbon.

To permit use of both the upper and lower case characters of the inldng wheel, the shaft 95 extends downwardly below the worm wheel I9 and through a table or bracket 99 fixed to the frame. A coil spring" 94 surrounds the lower end portion of the shaft, and it is clamped between such table and a washer 95, the latter being adjustably- .held in position by nuts 96 attached to the threaded lower end 91 of the shaft.

The lower end of the shaft is arranged immediately above a; trough-shaped abutment 99 formed integral wifli the rear ends of shift levers 99, the latter diverging forwardly and being pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin I99, which is journalled in tongues or cars I9I formed integral with the front wall 2I of the frame. The parts 99 and 99, as illustrated, may be made from a single piece of sheet metal, and the levers 99 terminate at their front ends in shift keys I92 In order to lock the type wheel in position during printing, the underside of the wheel is provided with an internal annular ratchet I93 with which a pawl I94 cooperates; the pawl, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, may be formed on the upper end of a hinge element I95 having a hook I99 at its lower .end to hingedly engage hooks I91 at the rear end of the hinge plate'll.

r The member I95 is provided with notched ears I99, which engage the crossbar I99 of an inverted U-shaped wire spring, the legs II9 of which pass through the lower end portion of the member. I95 and extend downwardly below the top 24 of the frame alongside the depending tongues 29. The legs are engaged by notched ears III on arms II2 that are secured to the rear end portions of thelevers 29. With this construction the pawl I94 will not interfere with the rotation of the type wheel unless the keyboard 3i is depressed, and whenever the latter is depressed, the arms II2 will move forwardly and the ears III will act on the legs II9 of the wire spring to swing the member I95 and cause the pawl I94 to move in a direction away from the shaft 65, with the result that the pawl will interlock with a proper tooth of the ratchet I99 so as to temporarily hold the type wheel in position whether an upper or lower case characteris being printed.

In operation the operator will turn either one or both of the knobs 92 to bring the proper character on one or the other of the wheels 93 the platen forwardly to cause the paper on the platen' 'to strike the portion of the inking ribbon 99 which is between the selected type character and the paper, with the result that the character is impressed on the paper. As soon as the keyboard is released, the springs 44 will function to return the keyboard and platen to normal position.

' Whenever it is desired to space without printing, the spacing bar 99 is depressed, and this causes depression of. the keyboard as well as forward movement of the platen. However, due to the abutment edges Gib, the spacing bar levers 9i cannot move downwardly sufficiently tocause the paper on the platen to be brought into contact with the ribbon.

When it is desired to print an upper case character, 'one or the other of the shift keys I92 is depressed. This causes the levers 99 to turn about the shaft I99 with the result that the abutment trough 98 acts against the lower end of the type wheel shaft toraise the type wheel to the proper elevation to print an upper case character. the platen will be moved forwardly to cause printing of the desired character; .Upon release of the shift key I92, spring 94 will function to assist in lowering the type wheel and to restore the shif keys to normal position. 7

Instead of manufacturing our typewriter accordance with Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, we can emaploy a simplified form of the invention such'as' illustrated in Figs, 12 to 14 inclusive. In this form a base 299 may be providedwith an up,

, .tion, the platen is not axially movable. "4o

Coil springs 299 connect the front end portions of the levers to the side walls of the frame to yieldingly hold the, keyboard in raised position and in contact with the abutments 2I9 arranged on said side walls. Depression of the keyboard functions to-move the platen forwardly.

Immediately forward of the platen, a shaft 2 is arranged and has its end portions journalled in the side walls of the frame. Knobs 2 I 2 are secured to the ends of the shaft for use in rotating the latter. I

An index wheel 2I3 bearing characters corresponding with the characters of the keyboard, is fixed to one end portion of the shaft and cooperates with a stationary pointer 2 I 4 mounted on one of-the side walls of the frame.

Immediately forward of the shaft 2, a second shaft 2I5 is arranged and has its ends fixed to the side walls of the frame. This shaft or rod functions as a guide for a sleeve 2I6 that is part of a carriage or casing 2II; Within the latter there is a hub 2I8 having a square bore to slidably receive the square portion of the shaft 2| I. A type wheel 2| 9 and a ratchet wheel 229 are fixed to the hub, and are arranged within the casing 2". The construction is such that the carriage and wheels may move lengthwise of the shafts 2| I and 2 I5, while the turning of the shaft ,employed to shift the latter lengthwise of the shafts, and such movement is limited by abut- If then the keyboard is depressed,

keyboard is depressed, the bar is provided with a fixedly connected forwardly projecting arm 230 which extends beneath the keyboard and is held in contact with the latter by means of the spring 228.

' In order to permit the rack bar to be moved forwardly independently of the movement of the keyboard, the bar has a second forwardly and upwardly projecting arm 23l which forms a handle A pawl 232 cooperates with the toothed rack to form an escapement mechanism. The

pawl is pivotally mounted at 233 on the carriage 211, and a spring 234 cooperates with the pawl to urge the free end of the latter toward the teeth of the rack.

The carriage (Fig. 13) supports an inking roller,235 which contacts the type characters at the periphery of the type wheel. 7

In this form of the invention, the external frame has been omitted to facilitate a disclosure of the invention.

In operation, the paper is threaded about the platen in the usual manner, and the operator turns either-one or both of the knobs 2 I2 to cause the desired character on the index wheel 2l3 to register with the pointer 2, He then depresses the keyboard'so as to cause the platen to move forwardly and drive the paper into contact with the type character which has been set up by the wheel '2I9. -When the keyboard is depressed, it will cause th arm 230 to move the toothed portion of the rack bar 235 forwardly and out of engagement with the pawl 232. During such movement the pawl 232, under the influence of the spring 234, will swing a short distance in a counter-clockwise direction; whereby when the keyboard is released, and moves upwardly under the influence of the springs 209,

the pawl will be in position to engage a succeed ing tooth of the rack bar as the latter moves rearwardly. Obviously this will result in feeding the type wheel one step for each cycle of the keyboard.

For spacing purposes, of course, the front end portion of the handle 23l may be depressed so as to cause movement of the rack'bar independently of the keyboard.

The other simplified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive, is quite similar to the structure just described with the main exception that the frame of the machine rocks with the keyboard. In this embodiment, the base 300 carries a frame 30l having legs 302 which are pivotally connected at 303 to the base to allow the entire frame to rock about the horizontal axis of the pivots 303.

The false keyboard 304 is rigidly secured to the rockable frame and carries fixedly arranged key buttons 305 positioned to simulate the keyboard of a conventional typing machine.

Here also the rotatable platen 306 .is fixed against axial movement. It is supported by a support 301 which has less 308 fixedly secured to the rear end portion of the frame.

Between the platen and keyboard, a square shaft 309 is arranged and has its ends journaled (Fig. 17) in pedestals 3l0 fixedly supported by the base. One portion of the shaft is provided with a knob or handle 3 and an index wheel 3| 2, both of which are fixed to the shaft. The index, of course, is provided with characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, and such characters cooperate with a stationary indicating finger 3I3 supported by a post 3 fixedly mounted on the base.

The opposite end of the shaft is provided with a ratchet wheel 3l5 (Fig. 1'1) which cooperates with a spring pawl 316 mounted on the base. The pawl prevents accidental rotation of the shaft.

A type wheel 3l1 is mounted on the square portion of the shaft so as to rotate with the latter and slide along the shaft, and this type wheel is also provided with a casing 3l8 which travels with the type wheel lengthwise of the shaft. Obviously. the type characters on the wheel correspond with the characters on the index wheel and the keyboard. The casing of the type wheel is of skeleton formation and is preferably provided with a shoe 3| 9 that is guided across the machine by a track 320 fixed to the base. The type wheel is inked by an inking roller 32| supported by the skeleton casing, and the carriage may be provided with a handle 322 to allow it to be moved back and. forth across the machine.

In this form of the invention the escapement mechanism is formed by a toothed rack bar 323 having legs 324 at its ends which are pivotally connected at 325 to the side edge portions of the base. The rack bar is urged in a rearward direction by means of a coil spring 326 having one of its ends connected to the bar and its other end anchored to the base as indicated at 321.

A pawl (Fig. 15) 328 is pivotally mounted at 329 upon the carriage or casing of the type wheel, I

and is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a spring 330. The pawl, of course, cooperates with the teeth of the rack bar, and whenever the latter is moved forwardly out of contact with the pawl, the spring 330 will move the pawl into a position where it will engage a succeeding tooth of the rack bar when the latter returns rearwardly to normal position.

The rack bar has forwardly extending arms 33l which terminate at their forward ends in a spacing bar 332, positioned forwardly of the keyboard. The arms are connected by a cross bar 333 positioned immediately below the keyboard whereby when the latter is depressed, the spacing bar will also be depressed. For spacing purposes, the spacing bar can be depressed independently of the keyboard.

In using this form of the invention, the handle 3 is turned until the desired character on the index wheel 3l2 registers with the pointer 313 and this will bring the desired type character on the wheel 3l1 into printing position adjacent to the platen. Then when the keyboard is depressed the paper on the platen will be brought into contact with the selected type character. When pressure is released from the keyboard, the spring 223 will act to restore the keyboard and frame to normal position. During the printing operation, the escapement mechanism will function to feed the type wheel to the proper position for the next impression.

If the spacing bar 332 is depressed, the rack bar can be moved out of contact with the pawl and While we have disclosed what we now consider to be some preferred embodiments of the invention in such manner that they may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, we are aware that many modifications will be apparent to such persons without departing therefrom or from the scope of the claims, and sincethe disclosure has been given by way of examples, for cleamess and understanding, no unnecessary limitations should be understood and the appended claims should be construed as broadlyas the state of the art permits.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1 In a typewriter of the character having a forward depressible dummy keyboard and a rear cate the type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for turning said cylindrical indicating means to indicate a selected character and for shifting the type-carrying element to bring the selected typecharacter into printing position. 1

rotatable platen, said keyboard being provided with key buttons adapted to be struck'by the tingers of the operator, indicator cylinder means arranged between the platen and keyboard and rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, a type member movable in synchronism with the indicator cylinder means and also arranged between the platen and the keyboard, stationary means cooperating with the indicator cylindermeans to indicate the type character of the,type member selected to be printed,'means for simultaneously turning the indicator cylinder means and the type member, and means cooperating withv the keyboard and platen for causing relative movement between the platen an'd type member, one toward the other, upon depreseating means arranged in the casing parallel to the platen element, stationary indicating means positioned in close proximity to said cylindrical means, one of said means including a series of indicating characters corresponding in appearance with the type characters on the typecarrying element,'and the other indicating means being constructed and arranged to cooperate with board.

said indicating characters to indicate the type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneously turning said cylindrical indicating means to indicate a selected character and for shifting the type-carrying element to bring the selected type character into printingposition. c I

3. In a typewriter of the character having a movable type-carrying element, a cylindrical platen element, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of said elements for moving the same toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises rotatable cylindrical indicating means arranged parallel to .the platen element and po- 4. In a typewriter of the character having a movable type-carrying element, a cylindrical platen element, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the elements for moving the same toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the axis of the platen element and positioned between that element and the keyboard, a second shaft on which the type-carrying element is mounted, gearing connecting the medial portion of the first-mentioned shaft to said second shaft, indieating wheels mounted on the first-mentioned shaft at opposite sides of said gearing, each of said wheels being provided with a series of indicating characters, the indicating characters on the wheels corresponding in appearancewith the said wheels, stationary indicating means positioned in close proximity to said wheels for indicat'ing the type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for turning the first-mentioned shaft, whereby thewheels and type-carrying element are simultaneously turned.

5. In a typewriter of the character having an axially movable and rotatable type-carrying element, a cylindrical platen element, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of said elements for moving the same toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a bifurcated lever pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis and having its inner end operatively connected to the type-carrying element for shifting the latter axially, said lever having forwardly projecting arms which extend beneath the keyboard and terminate in finger-engaging elements positioned at the forward portion of said keyof said shaft, said means including a series of indicating characters corresponding in appearance with the type characterson-the type-carrying element, stationary indicating means positioned in close proximity to said cylindrical means for indicating the type character selected to be printed, means operatively connecting the shaft to the type-carrying element to cause the typecarrying element to move. in response to movements of the shaft, and manually operated means for turning said shaft.

7. In a typewriter of the character described, a depressible dummy keyboard having key buttons thereon adapted to be struck by the fingers of the operator, an inverted U-shaped rockable support movable about a horizontal axis'extending through the lower end thereof, a platen unit cooperating with said rockable support and normally maintaining the platen in a position rearwardly of the type wheel. and lever means pivotally mounted at its medial portion for movement about a horizontal axis arranged forwardly of the flrst-mentioned horizontal axis, said keyboard being mounted upon the front end portions of the lever means, and the rear end portions of the lever means engaging the platen unit for moving the latter forwardly upon depression of the keyboard.

8. In a typewriter of the character described, a frame having oppositely disposed upstanding notched tongues and an aperture between the tongues, a sectional bearing having oppositely projecting pins detachably engaging the notches of the tongues, said bearing extending through said aperture, means detachably connected to the frame and engaging the bearing to prevent the latter fromshiftin'g in said aperture, a sleeve extending through the bearing, a bar carried by the sleeve and provided with notches, a type wheel having pins movable upwardly and downwardly in the notches of said bar, a shaft fixed to the wheel and extending downwardly through said sleeve, and means for rotating the sleeve.

9. A typewriter of the character described,

comprising a depressible dummy, keyboard pro-' vided with key characters, a platen unit arranged rearwardly of the keyboard, a type wheel positioned between the keyboard and platen unit and having type characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, means for rotating the type wheel to position a desired type character thereon in a position confronting the platen unit, means cooperating with the keyboard-and platen unit for causing relative movement between said unit and the type wheel, one toward the other, upon depression of the keyboard,

ratchet teeth united with the type wheel, a pivotally mounted pawl cooperating with said teeth, and a spring element operatively connected with the pawl and tensioned by the last-mentioned means during said relative movement.

10. A typewriter of the character described, comprising a depresslble dummy keyboard provided with key characters, a platen unit arranged rearwardly of the keyboard, a type wheel positioned between the keyboard and platen unit and having type characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, first means'for rotating the type wheel to position a desired type character thereon in a position confronting the platen unit, second means cooperating with the keyboard and platen unit for causing relative movement between said unit and the type wheel, one toward the other, upon depression of the keyboard, and locking means for the type wheel tensioned by the last-mentioned means during said relative movement, said locking means including a hingedly mounted pawl, an annular series of ratchet teeth carried by the wheel and engageable by the pawl, and a substantially inverted U- shaped spring engaging said pawl and having depending legs connected to and actuated by said second means.

11. In a typewriter of the character having a movable type-carrying element, a cylindrical platen element, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of said elements for moving the same toward the. other upon depression of the casing, rotatable cylindrical indicating means arranged in the casing parallel to the platen element and positioned between the platen element and the dummy keyboard, said cylindrical indicating means including a series of indicating characters corresponding in appearance with the type characters of the type-carrying element, window means in the casing through which the cylindrical indicating means may be seen, stationary indicating means arranged on the easing adjacent tothe window means and co-operating with the indicating characters on the cylindrical indicating means to indicate the type character selected to be printed, and manually operated' means for turning said cylindrical indicating means to indicate a selected character and for shifting the type-carrying element to bring the selected type character into printing position.

12. In a typewriter of the character described, comprising a type wheel, a rockable support movable forwardly and rearwardly about a horizontal axis and having a platform movable toward and away from the type wheel, a platen having a carriageslidable along the platform andprovided at its front edge portion with a toothed rack, a stationary support positioned below the platform, a lever pivotally mounted on the support for movement about a vertical axis, a platen advancing pawl, carried by one edge portion of the lever, a finger depending from the platform and engageable with the pawl for shifting the lever in a counter-clockwise direction, a locking pawl arranged at the opposite edge portion of the lever, both pawls being engageable with the teeth of the rack, and means for moving the movable platform and platen unit toward and away from the type wheel.

13. In a typewriter of the character described,

- a rotatable type wheel, a substantially horizontal table, a shaft for the type wheel extending through the table, a shift lever device having forwardly extending diverging arms pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis, said arms being rigidly united at their rear ends and forming an abutment adapted to engage the lower end of the shaft for lifting the type wheel keyboard, the improvement which comprises a when the forward end portions of the levers are depressed, dummy keyboard means arranged forwardly of the typewheel and positioned over said arms, a platen unit arranged rearwardly of the type wheel, and means. cooperating with the keyboard means and platen unit for causing relative movement between the platen and type wheel, one toward the other, upon depression of the keyboard means.

14. A typewriter of the character described, comprising a. depressible dummy keyboard having key characters thereon, a rotatable platen spaced rearwardly from the keyboard, means for preventing the platen from moving axially, a rotatable shaft arranged between the platen and keyboard, an indicator wheel fixedly mounted on the shaft and having characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, a type wheel rotatable with the shaft and axially movable along the latter, a ratchet wheel movable along the shaft in synchronism with the type wheel and rotatable with the latter, a casing for the ratchet wheel and type wheel, said casing being movable lengthwise of the shaft in synchronism with the type wheel, a pawl in the casing cooperating with the ratchet wheel, means for guiding the casing. a rockable rack bar adapted to be moved in one direction by depression of the keyboard, and a spring-urged pawl carried by the casing and cooperating with the teeth of the rack bar for feeding the type wheel along its shaft.

15. A typewriter of the character described, comprising a depressible dummy keyboard having key characters thereon, a rotatable platen spaced rearwardly from the keyboard, means for preventing the platen from moving axially, a rotatable shaft arranged between the platen and keyboard, an indicator wheel fixedly mounted on the shaft and having characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, a type wheel rotatable with the shaft and axially movable along the latter, a ratchet wheel movable along y the shaft in synchronism with the type'wheel and rotatable with the latter, a casing for the ratchet wheel and type wheel, said casing being movable lengthwise of the shaft in synchronism with the type wheel, a pawl in the casing cooperating with r the ratchet wheel, means for guiding the casing, a rockable rack bar adapted to be moved in one direction by depression of the keyboard, a springurged pawl carried by the casing and cooperating with the teeth of the rack bar for feeding the type wheel along its shaft, and a handle connected to the rack bar for moving the latter in said one direction independently of the keyboard.

16. A typewriter of the character described, comprising a depressible dummy keyboard having key characters thereon, a rotatable platen spaced rearwardly from the keyboard, means for preventing the platen from moving axially, a rotatable shaft arranged between the platen and key- 'board, an indicator wheel fixedly mounted on the shaft and having characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, a type wheel rotatable with the shaft and'axially movable along the latter, a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft near one end thereof, a stationary pawl cooperating with the ratchet wheel to control rotation of the shaft, a casing for the type wheel adapted to move lengthwise of the shaft in synchronism with the type wheel, means for guiding the casing, a rockable rack bar adapted to be moved forwardly by depression of the keyboard, and a springurged pawl carried by the casing and cooperating with the teeth of the rack bar forfeeding the type wheel along its shaft.

17. A typewriter of the character described,

comprising a depressible dummy keyboard having key characters thereon, a rotatable platen spaced rearwardly from the keyboard, means for preventing the platen from moving axially, a rotatable shaft arranged between the platen and keyboard, an indicator wheel fixedly mounted on the shaft and having characters corresponding with the characters on the keyboard, a type wheel rotatable with the shaft and axially movable along the latter, a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft near one end thereof, a stationary pawl cooperating with the ratchet wheel to control rotation of the shaft, a casing for the type wheel adapted to move lengthwise of the shaft in synchronism with the type wheel,'means for guiding the casing, a rockable rack bar adapted to be moved forwardly by depression of the keyboard, a spring-urged pawl carried by the casing and cooperating with the teeth of the rack bar for feeding the type wheel along its shaft, and manually operated 4 means including a spacing bar for moving the rack bar forwardly independently of the keyboard.

18. In a typewriter of the character having a forward depressible dummy keyboard and a rear rotatable platen, said keyboard being provided with key buttons adapted to be struck by the fingers of the operator and having characters thereon, a horizontal shaft arranged between the platen and keyboard and rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, indicator cylinder means mounted on said shaft and having characters corresponding with the characters of the keyboard, a hand-operated member at one end of the shaft for actuating the latter, a type member movable in synchronism with the indicator cylinder means and also arranged between the platen and, the keyboard, stationary means cooperating with the indicator cylinder means to indicate the type character of the type member selected to be printed, said type member having type characters corresponding with the characters of the keyboard, and means cooperating with' the keyboard and platen for causing relative movement between the platen and type member, one toward the other, upon depression of the keyboard.

19. In a typewriter of the character described, a casing having an opening at the upper front portion thereof, a depressible dummy keyboard arranged to operate in said opening and having key characters thereon adapted to be struck by the fingers of the operator, a rotatable platen pos'itioned above the rear portion of said casing, a manually operated rotatable shaft arranged parallel with the platen and positioned between the platen and keyboard, a handle operatively connected to said shaft and arranged at the exterior of one side of the casing, indicator cylinder means within the casing mounted on said shaft and having indicating characters thereon, a type wheel rotatable in synchronism with the indicator cylinder means and having type characters corresponding with the characters of the indicator cylinder means, said type wheel being arranged mainly within the casing, window means arranged in the casing rearwardly of the keyboard and through which the indicator cylinder means may be seen, and means in the casing cooperating with the keyboard and platen for causing relative movement between the platen and type wheel, one toward the other, upon depression of the keyboard.

J. LEE SWEENEY. HARRY BATES. 

